Geranium plant named ‘Pacneon’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Zonal Geranium  plant named ‘Pacneon’, characterized by its compact, upright and rounded plant habit; freely branching habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; early flowering habit; semi-double intense red purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium×hortorum

Cultivar denomination: ‘PACNEON’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of ZonalGeranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Pacneon’.

The new Zonal Geranium plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Dresden, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new compact semi-double flowered ZonalGeranium cultivars with uniform plant habit, dark green-colored foliageand attractive flower coloration.

The new Zonal Geranium plant originated from a cross-pollination made bythe Inventor in Dresden, Germany during the summer of 2002 of twounnamed proprietary selections of Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented.The new Zonal Geranium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventoras a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Dresden,Germany in June, 2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium plant by vegetativeterminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Dresden,Germany since December, 2003, has shown that the unique features of thisnew Zonal Geranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Pacneon’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Pacneon’ as anew and distinct cultivar of ZonalGeranium:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and rounded plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   5. Freely flowering habit.    -   6. Semi-double bright red purple-colored flowers.    -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of theparent selections in plant vigor and flower color.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium can be compared to plants ofPelargonium×hortorum ‘Pacmar’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,202.In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Dresden, Germany, plants of thenew Zonal Geranium differed from plants of ‘Pacmar’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium were more compact than        plants of ‘Pacmar’.    -   2. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium were not as vigorous as        plants of ‘Pacmar’.    -   3. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium and ‘Pacmar’ differed        slightly in flower color.    -   4. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium and ‘Pacmar’ differed in        peduncle color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Zonal Geranium plant, showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Zonal Geranium. The photograph comprises a sideperspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Pacneon’ grown in acontainer.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in Dresden, Germany in a glass-coveredgreenhouse during the autumn and winter and under conditions whichclosely approximate commercial Geranium production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures averaged 18° C., nighttemperatures averaged 16° C. and light levels ranged from 15 kilolux to100 kilolux. Plants were six months from planting when the photographand description were taken. In the detailed description, colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart,1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical Classification: Pelargonium×hortorum ‘Pacneon’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of            Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of            Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 18 days at            temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 22 days at            temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 25 days            at temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 30 days            at temperatures of 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant/growth habit.—Compact, upright to rounded plant habit;            densely foliated; moderately vigorous growth habit. Freely            basal branching habit with about five lateral branches            developing per plant.        -   Plant height, to top of umbels.—About 30 cm.        -   Plant height, to top of leaves.—About 20 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 40 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 7 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.            Internode length: About 1.5 cm. Texture: Pubescent. Color:            Close to 146B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate or opposite; simple.        -   Length.—About 4 cm.        -   Width.—About 7 cm.        -   Shape.—Reniform.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Margin.—Bi-crenate.        -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent; velvety.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Close to 147A; venation, close to 146C. Developing and fully            expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation,            close to 146B. Zonation pattern: Intensity: Medium. Width:            About 1.5 cm. Color: Close to 139A. Petiole: Length: About            5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Pubescent; rough. Color, upper and lower surfaces:            Close to 146B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Semi-double rotate flowers arranged in            rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils.            Umbels displayed above the foliage on strong peduncles.            Flowers face upright to outward; flowers rounded. Flowers            not fragrant.        -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about seven            flower umbels per plant each with about 20 flower buds and            open flowers.        -   Time to flower.—Early flowering habit, plants begin to            flower about 90 days after planting.        -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In            the garden in Dresden, Germany, flowering is continuous from            April until frost in the autumn.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about six to ten            days on the plant; umbels last about three to four weeks on            the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Umbel height.—About 6 cm.        -   Umbel diameter.—About 10 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 4.5 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 1.5 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Shape: Rounded. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About eight; imbricate. Length:            About 2.2 cm. Width: About 2 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex:            Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: When            opening and fully opened, upper surface: More blue than 66A;            central marking on upper petals, close to 34A; at the base,            close to 155D; venation, close to 66A. Color does not fade            with development. When opening and fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 66B; at the base, close to 155D; venation,            close to 66A.        -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: About four. Length: About            1.8 cm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Irregular. Apex:            Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: When            opening and fully opened, upper surface: More blue than 66A;            at the base, close to 155D; venation, close to 66A. Color            does not fade with development. When opening and fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 66B; at the base, close to            155D; venation, close to 66A.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five, arranged in a single            whorl. Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape:            Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces:            Close to 166A; towards the base, close to 146A.        -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 12 cm. Diameter: About            5 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: Mostly erect. Texture:            Pubescent. Color: Close to 166A.        -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 3 cm.            Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong; flexible.            Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 166A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:            About eight. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape:            Tubular. Anther color: Close to 169C. Pollen amount:            Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 169C. Gynoecium: Pistil            quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 1 cm. Stigma            shape: Five-parted. Stigma color: Close to 60A. Style            length: About 3 mm. Style color: Close to 60C. Ovary color:            Close to 148B.        -   Seeds.—Shape: Elliptic. Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About            1 mm. Color: Close to 165A.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Zonal    Geraniums.

Garden performance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have been observedto tolerate rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about 0° C. toabout 35° C. to 40° C. and have demonstrated good garden performance.

1. A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Pacneon’ asillustrated and described.